NEPAL NUTRITION AND FOOD SECURITY PORTAL

On 14 December 2017, Nepal launched the Multisector Nutrition Plan (MSNP) II (2018-2022), targeting women, children and adolescent girls in the country. The MSNP II was endorsed and approved by the cabinet of the Government of Nepal on November 19, 2017. Deepak Bohara, Minister for Health, launched the Plan amidst a ceremony held in Kathmandu by the National Planning Commission. Approximately 36 per cent of Nepal’s children suffer from stunting, 10% from wasting and almost 53 per cent from anemia. Forty-one percent of women of reproductive age suffer from anemia and 17 per cent from long term energy deficiencies. These statistics differ by geographical region and social group. The Government of Nepal targets to reduce the rate of stunting from 36 per cent to 24 per cent by the year 2025 and to 14 percent by 2030. The cost of implementing MSNP II is approx. US 470 million. The budget is segregated by the National Planning Commission in seven sectors namely education, health, agriculture, livestock, drinking water and sanitation, women children and social welfare and local governance. It is estimated that 59 percent of the budget will be supported by the government and 41 percent by a host of development partners.